England’s Marcus Rashford misses in the penalty shoot-out during the UEFA Euro 2020 Final at Wembley Stadium
(Picture: PA Wire)The right wing political commentator Darren Grimes has been lambasted online after he offered Marcus Rashford some unsolicited advice.
Grimes criticised Rashford, 23, for missing a penalty in England’s Euro 2020 final against Italy, suggesting he should focus more on his footballing skills than contributing to politics in future.
Honestly though @MarcusRashford, penalties not politics from now on, aye?
— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) July 11, 2021
The 23-year old is not only a star of the national team and Manchester United, he also successfully lobbied the Government to extend free school meals for low-income families during school holidays in June 2020.
In November, he forced Boris Johnson to do the same for the following Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. The Prime Minister personally called the footballer to tell him his decision and he also received an MBE.
Fans thought it was “despicable” for Grimes to sneer about this political campaign that has helped many lives, and for condemning the young player for a mistake during a moment of unimaginable pressure.
Here’s a taste of the reaction:
Marcus could miss a million penalties but he’d still have achieved more than all of us. He’s one of the best Englishmen living today. https://t.co/ZSofuU6bKy
— Adil Rashford Saka Sancho 💙 (@adilray) July 11, 2021
What would you know about either?
— David Banks (@DBanksy) July 11, 2021
Rashford took a stand against child food poverty. You’d have to be a pathetic individual to sneer at that.
— Darren Cleary (@RadioCleary) July 11, 2021
We saw the best. Now the very worst. https://t.co/aQwPpkKQHb
— Ayesha Hazarika (@ayeshahazarika) July 11, 2021
Marcus Rashford will always be the working class hero who shamed the government into feeding hundreds of thousands of hungry children, and you will always be a poisonous nothing https://t.co/L2XhgKymMZ
— Owen Jones 🌹 (@OwenJones84) July 12, 2021
Feeding children isn't politics and if you think it is you're beyond redemption. Absolutely vile. https://t.co/9oFLKOCVQ1
— Abyss-Screamer Joshua (@jshsouthern) July 11, 2021
Yeah, because feeding our hungry kids is such a bad thing to do.
— Leon Palmer (@Leon3576) July 11, 2021
If it wasn’t for rashford millions of school children would have gone hungry this last 18 months. Tell me what you have done that gives you the right to criticise him? The cheek of it 🤷♀️
— Kells 💙 (@kellsley) July 11, 2021
He fed hungry children during the pandemic while reaching the final of a major tournament. Seems he can do whatever he likes, in spite of your raging jealousy.
— Dr Meenal Viz (@drmeenalviz) July 11, 2021
Hmmm you should delete this one. Penalties in a major tournament is a lot of pressure at the age of 23, stepping up to do it is commendable enough.
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) July 12, 2021
Why are you such a total wanker Darren? Marcus has achieved more that matters than you ever will.
— Tom Sherrington (@teacherhead) July 12, 2021
I’ve fixed that for you. You’re welcome. pic.twitter.com/LMVVKqKeFJ
— Nick Harvey (@mrnickharvey) July 11, 2021
Oh shut up you Fisher price Nigel Farage
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) July 11, 2021
Hopefully Grimes will think twice before criticising a national hero again.
He is not the only person to make the bizarre assessment. Tory MP Natalie Elphicke apologised after saying Rashford should spend more time “perfecting his game” rather than “playing politics” in a conversation with fellow MPS.
Backtracking, she said: “I applaud the England team who gave their all in Euro 2020.
“Last night I shared the frustration and heartbreak of millions of other England fans.
“I regret messaging privately a rash reaction about Marcus Rashford’s missed penalty and apologise to him for any suggestion that he is not fully focussed on his football.
“Onwards to the World Cup and I look forward to Marcus Rashford’s contribution at that time.
It came as Rashford and his fellow young penalty shooters suffered a torrent of racist abuse, with the Football Association and PM among those condemning the hateful behaviour of some so-called England fans.
The trio’s social media pages were quickly flooded with racist comments, leading the FA to release a statement condemning the “disgusting behaviour”.
A spokesperson said: “The FA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and is appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media.
“We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.
“We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real life consequences. Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse.”
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) July 12, 2021
Meanwhile Johnson issued his own statement condemning the racist abuse aimed at the players.
He said: “This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media. Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.”
I am disgusted that @England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media.
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) July 12, 2021
It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.
Home Secretary Priti Patel also tweeted: “I am disgusted that @England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media.
“It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.”
